Mechanical hobbyhorse



April 14, 1953 J. o. HAHs 2,634,975

MECHANICAL HoBBYHoRsE Filed Aug. 20, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET l IN VEN TOR. Ja/27e: 0. f/ad Patented Apr. 14, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANICAL I IOBBYHORSI';7

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ApplicationAixgust :20, 1951,4 Serial;N- '242,653'

5.- .Glaima-- (CL 2721-534) This invent-ion relates to a `.mechanioal, hobby.- horse.`

This invention is an improvement over the mechanical 'hobby-horse shown and describedv in my-'Patents-Nos 1,863,012; and,1,8,88,-763. According totlf-1earramazement shown and described in myL lPatent No. 1,888,763, the moye- 'mentl ofthe hobby-horse is controlled andr the galt selected-by means .of a -brakeband which is Aoperated bythe rider through the medium of the bridle reins` -Th-us, iby pullingy on the reins, .the bra'ke band is :held against the differential housing-"which .controlsithe movement .of the differi- :entiall driving mechanism to .thereby cause the -speedof the crankwhich vcontrols .the rear of .the horse to 'abe retarded. 'Ihus, therelation .of the crank that Vcontrols the front of .the horse, vand `the crank :thatrcontrols the rear is constantly chang, ing so that the gait or the amount of rocking :movement-is also ,constantlychangfing There- =lnre,'by releasing .the :brake hand, the difllerential `:gears ldo lnotzoperateand thisresults in thecranks :operating in the same relation, with respect to eachother at, the samespeed-until the .brake band ris sagain held against the housing Lby the rider throughithe medium of thebridle reins -to thereby :eanse'the horse to changeggaits again.l

ft-is, therefore, an object of 'the :present invention to provideza mechanical hobby-horse Y,which :is .constructed so that a quicker return from a maximum or vroughefait .to a :minimum :0r Veasy gait Lcan ibe obtained Without vthe 4necessity of lgoing :through the` entirerdycle of gaits to Vget tothe minimum -or easy gait, :this arrangement being especially vsuitable whenthe mechanical hobby- :horse ci the present invention is being ,used ,in locations where small children are riding the ;horse. Thus, the vdiilerential :mechanism cany be `set to 4return Ato .the .minimum oreasiest v,gait or `,a ver-y slightrockingfmovement lpermanently' by the manufacturer 4whereas previously it was necessary for a small child .to pull 1on the rreins until the .horse was 4at its .most violent :rocking movement whichisometimes frightened the child and caused the child .,tolet -so of 'the reins, While .the .horse ,would Aremain in Lthe .maximum or .roughest gait giving :the child k,ascare and .sa thorough shaking- Another Object of 'thelinventionlis to ,prei/.idea mechanical hobby-horse Whichis constructed so `that'therider vcan select'thegait that he 91' she Wantsthehorse `to return to when the v.reins are released, such constructionbeing especially convenient 'when the horse is being usedby adultsgin Still another object of the. invention topic;- -vide a mechanical hobby-horse which includes an -improved means for actuating the. zbrakeghand through the bridle -bit instead of through 4the martingale as shown and described in APatent No. 1,888,763, whereby the.. manufacturer `,Wi-ll be able to use a more picturesque and realistic martingale on the horse and also the rider will `be provided 4With additional leverage.. and :the riderwill not have to pull as hard to change thek gait and further this will result in a more neater arrange,- ment. f

Still another object vof the invention is to pro- Vide a mechanical hobby-horse which includesa-n improved means for supporting the horse `:body yand wherein two of the previously used crank disks are eliminated so that the lbody can be molded in one piece anda more realistic horse body can `be used, the horse of the present ini/Ierition being constructed so that asmoother action and more uniform load on the-motor assu d.

Other `.oiriects and advantages will be apparent duringthe course of 'the .fniipwns description- In the accompanying drawings, forming a pari of thisy application, and in which 4like are used to designate like parts throughout .the

same; v y

Figure 1 fis a side `elevatioiiil Viewoif Athe me,- chanical lfiobby-lflorse, constructed according the present invention `and with parts ,broken awayand in section;

Figure cf2 isa top pian view mclane downtiie base, .with the horseand base .coter remerci;

Figure 3 is Ja ,cutaway riew ,Showing 011e 9i ...the

1supofertili,,e Ymembers and showing the operation of thecounterbaiarice meqiian'sm;

and springghousing looking down the middle of the shaft on `the springfsvide, and with parts "broken-,away and insection.

A'Referring in detail to drawings, the numera; /l designates the body ofthe horse which kis mounted on a-steel angleiron-irazne H .bybcl-ts that extend through the frame and into engagevment-vvi-th#supports l2 thatmayzb'e casteil-,inside Athey body ot'thehorse. v'Ihevbody :I isihollowfaiid the under portionofthe body isj open or cutaway t'opermi-t the body to beplaced overfth ll. fFIhefra-mefi lisconnected with@ lilrig lsissernbneslsaftwotutes14.rigoler. :origin a part of one of the tubes I4 is shown and rods I5 are arranged in threaded engagement with nuts which are welded on each end of the tube I4 and are locked in place by a jam nut i8, Figure 3.

The upright assembly rods I5, Figures l and. 3J each have a bearing pressed into the tube that is welded on the lower end thereof. Extending through the bearing on the lower end of the rod I5 is a bolt I1, and the bolt I1 is arranged in threaded engagement with a rocker arm i6, there being a lock nut I9 for maintaining these parts in assembled relation. The counterbalance portion of the upright assemblies includes a set collar 28, Figure 3, which is fastened to the upright rod I5 by means of an Allen head set screw 2|. Also, there is provided a compression spring 22 which fits loosely around the rod I5 allowing the rod to pass freely up and down within the spring 22.V Thus, when the horse comes down, the spring 22 is compressed and this helps the motor 43 when the horse starts up again. A spring housing 24 is provided, and a collar 23 is supported by a U-shaped stand 25, Figure 3. The

-stand 25 is provided with slots in the top of each leg and these slots provide a cradle for bolts 21. The stand 25 sets on studs E4 which may be formed integral with the base 26 so that the stand 25 will be maintained in an upright position and will not accidentally rotate or topple over. In Figure 1 there is shown a side elevational View of one of the U-shaped straps or stands 25.

The driving mechanism is shown in detail in Figures l and 2. Thus, there is provided a motor 43 which is connected by suitable belts to a large jack shaft pulley 29, and the pulley 28 is connected by suitable belts to a main drive pulley 30. The belt for connecting the motor 43 to the pulley 29 is indicated by the numeral 65, while the numeral 66 indicates the belts for connecting the pulley 29 to the main drive pulley 30. The drive pulley 30 is keyed toa transmission shaft 3| by means of a key 33, Figure 4, and the transmission shaft 3| is rotatably supported by a pair of pillow blocks 34 and 35, Figures 2 and 4.

The differential gearing functions in the same manner for changing the gait of the horse as explained in Patent No. 1,888,763 except for the addition of the spring unwinding mechanism and the gait selector. Also, the structure of the gear housing has been changed in order to facilitate the operation of the spring mechanism. In Figure 4, there is shown the structure of the mechanism including the gait changer selector that is controlled by the rider. The function of the spring in returning the horse to the desired easy gait which is set by the manufacturer will be explained first. In Figure 5 there is shown a cutaway view of the differential housing' showing the spring 38 and the hub 39 which is used for permanently setting the gait to which the horse immediately returns when the brake is released.

As stated in Patent No. 1,888,763, fourteen revolutions are required with the brake held on for the horse to go through the complete cycle. That is, starting with both cranks on top of their respective crank disks, fourteen revolutions are required for one disk to gain one revolution on the other. Therefore, seven revolutions are required for the horse to go from the minimum buck tothe maximum buck and the rider has to hold the reins back for seven more revolutions before the horse will be back to the minimum buck. As explained earlier in this application,

this is undesirable since an instant return to the easy gait is desirable.

The spring 38 is long enough to allow the transmission shaft 3I, Figure 6, to make seven revolutions which will allow the horse to go from the minimum to the maximum buck. The collar 39 is set for the spring to be unwound on the easiest gait by means of the set screw 44. The rider by holding back the reins, 2, connected at 3-4 to a pull cable 5 inturn connected to a brake rod 42 of the brake assembly 4|, holds the brake against the differential housing to thereby cause the housing to stand still and the spring to start winding around the collar. When the horse reaches the maximum buck, the compression spring 40 on the brake band assembly 4|. Figure 8, is not strong enough to hold the housing still after the spring 38 is completely wound up. This permits the housing to turn but it is strong enough to keep the spring 38 from unwinding -so that the horse is caused to stay on the roughest gait as long as the rider holds tightly on the reins.

If the rider releases the reins slightly, he can get any desired gait between minimum or-easy and maximum buck or rough providing he holds suflicient tension to keep the spring from unwinding past the gait that he desires. If the rider completely releases the tension on the reins, the spring unwinds instantly and the hors is instantly returned to the easy gait.

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, there is shown a portion of the shaft 3| and the spring 38 which is arranged so that the spring 38 will wind up when the brake band 4| is held against the differential housing 8. Also, it will be seen from Figure 6 that the spring is fastenedto the housing and to the collar that is set tightly on the shaft 3|.

The previous discussion has dealt with the method of returning the spring to the gait set by the manufacturer. There is also provided a mechanism for permitting the rider to select the gait to which he wants the horse to return and the rider can do this from the saddle with the gait selector assembly shown in Figure 4. Thus, there is provided a collar 45, Figure 4, which is used instead of the collar 39, Figure 5, when the gait selector is installed on horses that will be used by adults and larger children. Also, it is to be noticed that the collar 45 fits loosely on the shaft 3|, Figure 4, and the collar 45 includes a smaller portion or shoulder 81 that protrudes through the spring housing cover, there being three dowel pins 48 screwed into the collar 81,. Circumposed on the shaft 3| is a sleeve 41 and the sleeve 41 slides freely on the shaft 3| and over a key 52. A keyway 43 is provided and the keyway 48 is loose enough on the key 52 to allow free movement. The sleeve 41 is provided with three holes 88 into which the dowels 46 slide freely. When the rider pulls on the selector ring 1, Figure 1, the yoke 58 is pulled back by means of a cable I0 which is fastened to the yoke arm 69, the collar 45 being free to turn independently of the shaft 3| due to the fact that the sleeve 41 is pulled back and the dowels 46 are withdrawn from the openings 68. The rider then pulls the reins to thereby cause the brake band 4I to be held against the gear housing so that the horse will start to change gaits. When the horse gets to the gait that the rider desires it to return to when he releases the reins, the rider releases the selector ring 1, Figure 1, so that the sleeve 41 slides over the dowels 4B andthe key l y vt*frittata by the sliiift^3l If the rider' releases the reins, the horse will stay in this gait.

.,Whien nthe rider pulls the, reins,

Or, the rider can set the horse to return to any gait he desires. The cable l in Figure 4 is fastened to the yoke arm 69 and passes through a sheave 53 and from the sheave 53 it goes back through a sheave 54 which can be located as shown in Figure 2 or else it can be located on a stabilizer tube. In the latter instance, the cable will go up through the tube in the same manner as the cable 5 which is the gait changing cable. The selector cable I0, Figure 1, is drawn schematically to avoid confusing the two cables.

In Figure 2, there is shown the rocker arm assemblies 55 which may be made of steel tubing, and the arms 56 and crankarms 51 may be welded to the tubes. Suitable bearings which may be made of bronze or other metal are pressed into the ends of the tubes 55 and suitable pivot `bolts extend through brackets 58 on each side of the rocker tubes. Jam nuts may be provided for locking these parts in their assembled relation.

In Figures 1 and 2, there is shown Ia stabilizer which is indicated by the numeral 6. The stabilizer `6 has its lower end secured as by bolts to the base, while a stabilizer arm 59 is pivotally connected to the upper end of the stabilizer tube 6. 'I'he other end of the arm 59 is pivotally connected to a lug 60 which projects from the frame ll, Figure 1. The purpose of the stabilizer 5 and stabilizer 'arm 59 is to hold the horse and prevent the horse from falling forward or backward.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that a mechanical hobby-horse has been provided wherein the rider Will be `able to return the horse to a definite gait immediately. Thus, the differential mechanism can be set to return to the easiest gait or a very slight rocking movement permanently by the manufacturer. Previously, it was necessary for a small child to pull on the reins until the horse was at its most violent rocking movement and then the child might get vscared and let go of the reins. The horse would remain in the roughe'st gait, giving the child a scare and ya thorough shaking. The present invention eliminates this because the horse autom'atically returns to the easiest gait or the gait that is set as the desired gait for the horse to return to, when the reins are released. Also, the rider can select the gait to which the horse returns when the horse is used by adults. Further, an improved method has been provided for 'actuating the brake band so that the martingale is not needed whereby the manufacturer can put on 'a more picturesque and realistic martingale on the horse. Also, the rider is given additional leverage and he does not have to pull so hard to change the gait. Further, the construction is more neater than the previously described constructions in my patents, because the cable which Furth wel.-

ferential gear andspring housing is cut show" the spring which is used when the gait to which the horse returns is set by the manufacturer. This mechanism is set and held in place by a set screw 44. The set screw may be loosened and the hub adjusted in a different position with respect to the shaft 3l to effect contraction or expansion of the spring 38 for the desired gait. This setting can be easily accomplished by a service mechanic.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1.1In combination, a hobby horse, means for mounting said horse for rocking movement, a gait selector for said horse comprising ya transmission shaft vactuated by said rocking means, a differential housing, a differential gear assembly within said housing and operatively related to said transmission shaft, a collar fixed to the shaft, a coil spring within said housing having one end secured thereto and the other end secured to the collar, and a braking means for the housing comprising a spring-pressed brake engageable with said housing.

2. In combination, a hobby horse, means for mounting said horse for rocking movement, means for rocking said horse, a gait selector for said rocking means comprising a transmission shaft, a differential housing, a differential gear assembly within said housing and operatively related to said transmission shaft, a coil spring within said housing and embracing said shaft and having one end secured to the housing and an opposite end to the shaft, and -a braking means for the housing.

3. In combination, a hobby horse, means for mounting said horse for rocking movement, means for rocking said horse, a gait selector for said rocking means comprising a transmission shaft, a diiferential housing, a differential -gear assembly within said housing yand operatively related to said transmission shaft, ya coil spring within said housing and embracing said shaft and having one end secured to the housing and an opposite end to the shaft, a braking means for the housing ycomprising a spring-pressed brake engageable with said housing, and means for manually actuating said brake.

4. In combination, a hobby horse, means for mounting said horse for rocking movement, a gait selector for said horse comprising a transmission shaft actuated by said rocking means, a differential housing, a differential rgear assembly within said housing and operatively related to said transmission shaft, a collar xed to the shaft, la coil yspring within said housing having one end secured thereto and the other end secured to the collar, a -braking means for the housing comprising a spring-pressed brake engageable with said housing, and manual means operated by va rider on said horse for actuating said braking means.

5. In combination, a hobby horse, means for mounting said horse for rocking movement, means for rocking said horse. `a gait selector for shaft, a diierential housing, `a differential gear -assembly within said housing and operatively .related to said transmission shaft, Ia coil spring within said housing land embracing said shaft and having one end secured to the housing and an opposite end to the shaft, a braking means for the housing, and manual means operated lby a rider on said horse for actu-ating said braking means.

JAMES OT'TO HAHS.

8 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

